Motorist Diane Muspratt, who almost died in a road crash, has been banned from driving for her part in the accident.

Kennet Magistrates in Devizes heard Muspratt, 44, of New Park Road, Devizes, and another motorist suffered horrific injuries in the accident .

At last Thursday's court appearance Muspratt walked slowly into the courtroom using crutches and was accompanied by two women. She pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention on April 17

The court was told she was driving a Ford Fiesta van on the A342 near Everleigh at 4.35pm when her vehicle collided head-on with a Ford Mondeo.

Jane Warren, prosecuting, said Muspratt was in the process of overtaking a lorry while negotiating a right hand bend when the collision occurred.

Miss Warren said: "Witnesses behind Mrs Muspratt's van said she tried an overtaking manoeuvre behind an articulated lorry with no visibility around a right hand bend."

Miss Warren said neither Muspratt or the driver of the Mondeo, a Mr Gurney, could remember the accident due to the injuries they sustained. The lorry did not stop after the accident and has never been traced.

Mr Gurney, himself a lorry driver, has not been able to drive since the accident. He has lost 80 per cent mobility and cannot walk without a stick.

Andrew Eddy, defending, said Muspratt suffered severe injuries. Both ankles were broken, both heels were shattered, her right leg was broken in three places, the ligaments in her left knee required surgery, her spleen was removed, one of her arms was broken, she had two cracked ribs and her lung was punctured.

Mr Eddy said: "It's true to say she nearly died at the scene of the accident."

He said doctors were called to the scene because it was feared both her legs would have to be amputated but fortunately this was not necessary.

He said: "The effect it has had on her life is profound. She is hardly able to get about. She is on crutches and needs help to get about.

"She was working full time but is now reliant on benefits. She receives Disabled Living Allowance and Incapacity Benefit. She is unable to drive and will not be able to do so for at least a year. It may be she can't drive again."

Until the accident Muspratt had held a clean driving licence for 21 years.

He said: "The public need to be protected from people who drive in a careless way but it's unfortunate that the two main parties to this incident cannot remember what happened in this incident."

He urged the magistrates to take into account the effect the accident had had on Muspratt saying: "She has been punished by what has happened to her."

Mr Eddy also said that the driver of the lorry could have undertaken a manoeuvre that resulted in Muspratt taking avoiding action resulting in the accident.

However, Miss Warren said statements from three witnesses driving behind Muspratt's van say there was no adverse action by the lorry and blamed Muspratt's driving for the accident.

Magistrates disqualified Muspratt from driving for 12 months and fined her £175.